Manto, McEwing, Parent join Chisox staff
Jeff Manto, Joe McEwing and Mark Parent have joined new manager Robin Ventura's coaching staff with the Chicago White Sox.
Manto was the White Sox's minor league hitting coordinator the last four seasons and will now be the big club's hitting coach. McEwing managed Chicago's Triple-A affiliate at Charlotte last season. He will serve as third base coach.
Parent will be Ventura's bench coach. He had a 13-year major league career and managed Double-A Reading in the Phillies' organization last season.
Pitching coach Don Cooper and first base coach Harold Baines are holdovers from former manager Ozzie Guillen's staff. Ventura replaced Guillen, who was released from the final year of his contract and became manager of the Marlins.
Manto, who spent two years as the Pittsburgh Pirates hitting coach from 2006-07, said he will reach out to two players who struggled mightily last season - Adam Dunn and Alex Rios.
''Find out where they're at hope and hopefully when we get to spring training we can hit the ground running,'' Manto said.
With the exception of Ventura, none of the three coaches were major league standouts. And they have limited experience in the majors as coaches. Ventura is a rookie manager.
''All we know is how to grind it out and get the best of what we've got that day,'' said Manto, who replaces Greg Walker. ''It's going to be a blast working together.''
Manto hit homers in four consecutive at-bats while with the Baltimore Orioles in 1995.
Ventura, with no major league coaching or managerial experience, said he brought in people he was comfortable with.
''I totally trust what they're going to be doing and what we're asking them to do in their job and helping me,'' Ventura said. ''I'm not just hiring friends and we're going to go in here and have a great old time. We're here to work and win games and that's what I was looking for.''